- Myasishchev VM-T
-
VM-T Atlant 
VM-T with rocket booster at the Zhukovsky Air Show in 2005 Role Outsized cargo transport Manufacturer Myasishchev First flight 29 April 1981 Introduction January 1982 Retired 1989 Status Out of service Primary user Soviet Air Force Number built 2 Developed from Myasishchev M-4 The Myasishchev VM-T Atlant (Мясищев ВМ-Т «Атлант», Vladimir Myasishchev - Transport) is a variant of Myasishchev's M-4 'Molot' bomber (3M) designed as a strategic airlift airplane. The VM-T was modified to carry rocket boosters and the Soviet space shuttles of the Buran program. It is also known as the 3M-T.
Contents
Design and development
The design was conceived in 1978 when Myasishchev was asked to solve the problem of transporting rockets and other large space vehicles to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. Engineers used an old 3M (a modified M-4 bomber) and replaced the empennage with dihedral horizontal stabilizers with large rectangular end plate tailfins to accommodate any load that was twice the diameter of the aircraft's fuselage. A large cargo container, placed on top of the aircraft, would contain the freight. In addition, a new control system was added to the plane to compensate for the added weight.
The Atlant first flew in 1981 and made its first flight with cargo in January 1982. Its main task was to ferry Energiya rocket boosters from their development plant to the Baikonur Cosmodrome. On several occasions, the Soviet space shuttle Buran was piggybacked to the Cosmodrome as well.
Two Atlants were built. They were replaced in 1989 by Antonov's An-225 Mriya. One Atlant (RF-01502) is kept at the Zhukovsky airfield in Russia owned by TsAGI and Gromov Flight Research Institute, the other one (RA-01402) at Dyagilevo AFB in Ryazan.
Operators
- Soviet Air Force
Specifications (VM-T)
Data from Jane's[1]
General characteristics
- Crew: Five
- Payload: 50,000 kg (110,200 lb)
- Length: 51.2 m (167 ft 11 in)
- Wingspan: 53.6 m (174 ft 5 in)
- Height: 10.6 m (34 ft 9 in)
- Empty weight: 75,740 kg (166,980 lb)
- Max takeoff weight: 192,000 kg (423,300 lb)
- Powerplant: 4 × RKBM/Koliesov VD-7MD turbojets, 105.45 kN[2] (23,706 lbf) each
Performance
- Maximum speed: 500 km/h (311 mph)
- Range: 1,500 km (932 mi) ()
- Service ceiling: 8,000 - 9,000 m (26,245 - 29,525 ft)
- Thrust/weight: 8.4 N/kg (0.86 kgf/kg)
See also
- Related development
- Aircraft of comparable role, configuration and era
References
Notes
- ^ Rendall 1996, p. 189.
- ^ VM‐T characteristics, Buran Energia, http://www.buran-energia.com/vmt-atlant/vmt-carac.php.
Bibliography
- Rendall, David. Jane's Aircraft Recognition Guide. Harper Collins, Glasgow, 1996. ISBN 0-00-470980-2
External links
- History and details about the VM-T Atlant
- VM-T with Buran Orbiter and with very large cargo onboard
- Aviation.ru
- VM-T on Dyagilevo AFB (google maps)
- [1]
Myasishchev aircraft Civil Military Space Aircraft designed for the carriage of outsized cargo In service Retired Mini Guppy · Pregnant Guppy · Shuttle Carrier Aircraft · Skymonster · VM-T
Lists relating to aviation General Aircraft (manufacturers) · Aircraft engines (manufacturers) · Airlines (defunct) · Airports · Civil authorities · Museums · Registration prefixes · Rotorcraft (manufacturers) · TimelineMilitary Accidents/incidents Records Categories:- Myasishchev aircraft
- Soviet cargo aircraft 1980–1989
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
